CAN Policy Newsletter – Keep the Lights on Afterschool!
August 7, 2019
This October 24 marks the 20th Lights On Afterschool!
Lights On is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities. It is a great opportunity to keep our momentum going, raise more awareness in your community, and help mobilize support for afterschool at the local, state, and federal levels! Legislators will be in their districts, looking for ways to connect with the community.
To get your Lights On planning juices flowing, the Afterschool Alliance has an extensive Event Planning Kit you can access.
The California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance has also created a planning guide to support your efforts, and be on the look out for an updated one-pager focused on Lights On in California coming soon!
The California AfterSchool Network will be co-hosting a Lights On Event at the State Capitol. If you’re in the Sacramento area we hope you can join us! More details coming soon.
Register today – every program that signs up gets 150 KIND snacks for your event, until supplies run out!
This event provides a great opportunity to raise awareness in your community and build support for your program. If this date does not work for your program, we encourage you to invite the community (including public officials) on a different day this fall.
In This Newsletter:
Budget Signed, What’s Next?
The state budget signed by Governor Newsom includes $50 million
in additional funding for state after school
programs because of YOU. Thank you for raising your voice to
help children succeed in school and support working parents who
depend on publicly funded after school programs for quality child
care.
The funding in the budget provides temporary relief to keep after
school programs open this year, but it falls short of
what programs need to provide high-quality service in future
years.
CA Afterschool & Summer Challenge – Registration Opening Soon
March 9-10, 2020
Rally to save after school!
Join us March 9-10, 2020 in Sacramento for the 16th Annual California Afterschool & Summer Challenge.
Stand with hundreds of students, families, and afterschool providers to demand adequate support for publicly-funded programs. Help us ensure the Governor and legislature keep children learning and parents working! Learn more.
After School in the News
Check out these articles that highlight that afterschool funding is still a challenge. Please share widely!
Science gets hands on in summer STEM programs, but funding
challenges remain
By Sydney Johnson,
EdSource, July 26
After-school programs still waiting on cannabis tax
money
By Brooke Staggs,
The Orange County Register, July 22
21st CCLC Budget Update
Last week the White House, Senate leadership, and House leadership announced that they had come to an agreement to increase spending caps for FY2020 and FY2021. The spending deal paves the way for the Senate to join the House in passing their FY2020 appropriations bills with the new fiscal year scheduled to begin October 1, 2019.
Proposed Rule Change Could Impact After School Meals
In California thousands of children would no longer qualify for free school lunches if a federal proposal to cut the number of food stamp recipients is finalized.
The proposal would change eligibility and what counts in determining eligibility for SNAP. Because free and reduced price school meal (FRPM) eligibility is automatic for SNAP families the change could mean fewer children receive free/reduced price meals – which impacts afterschool and summer meals, and Title I, ASES, and 21st CCLC formulas.
Advocacy in the Summer
Summer is a great time to enage in advocacy efforts!
Not sure where to start? Why not plan a Summer Recess Site Visit. The Afterschool Alliance offers a great toolkit and resources to help you start planning. If you can’t get your local congressional members to come visit, try their staffers, or use this as an opportunity to engage your local and state leaders.
